16-18 S. King Street,

Gloucester City,
NJ08030

The organ music was very popular from 1971-1974. My parents owned the theater during this time. Carlton Taylor (Carl) was the projectionist that played the organ for about 30 minutes prior to showtime (the old guy that smoked cigars and drank Yoo-Hoos)and he was a concert-quality organist! Jaws, The Exorcist, and KC and the Sunshine Band played at The King. I have photos of the organ and some of the front of the building. Webby was the older lady that worked the box office. My mother, Lee (now deceased) came up with the ‘popcorn lottery’. Bet you bought a soda if you won! It was a ‘third run’ theater. The idea was low cost admission (the film distributors get 50%+ of the admission) so that you would have change for the concession stand (or at least get to see a movie as the neighorhood was NOT wealthy). Non-alcoholic Pina Coladas and hot dogs sold big. Once they rented the theater to some Buddists for a viewing of Johnothan Livingston Seagull(Niel Diamond?)and sold out of goodies, borrowing stock from the neighboring moviehouse. If you want more info, John William Panchuk lives in Marlton, NJ and would remember more (I was 2 yrs old at the time).

I remember going here as kid in the 70s. They had a free popcorn lottery with the tickets. A small piece of paper thumb-tacked to the wall, with hand written numbers. Maybe 2 dozen. Match a number, and you’d win. Even though we’d always get popcorn, I remember thinking the few times I won was more exciting than the movie.